Races & Places with azsungoddessRunning & Racing around the country

"Disclaimer: I received a BOCO Gear Run Hat as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

The latest addition to my BibRave branded swag is my BOCO gear run hat. I have some visors made by BOCO which have been great, but this was my first time trying a running hat from them.

In case you are wondering, BOCO stands for Boulder Colorado, the birthplace of BOCO gear!

My BibRave hat was a custom design, but it matches up with the trail hat on their site. Here are some of the benefits:

Camp hat styling

Wicking sweatband

Adjustable back closure

Flat bill

I wore these on short runs, and long runs. I sometimes have a hard time with hats flying off when I’m running. This hat has a cloth edge around the inside of the brim, and that helps with grip. Overall, the fit is good for me, it has an adjustable back.

The sweatband inside also helps keep sweat out of your eyes – which here in AZ is a very good thing!!!!! This photo below was taken during a 108 degree run!

The bill flips up – with the logo printed underneath – and I think that it’s a better look for a guy than a girl, unfortunately. Or maybe it’s just my head!

Unfortunately, it is not machine washable, hand wash only. Mine is looking pretty dirty, time for a wash! The hat travels well, I took it to Rock n Roll Savannah.

Overall, really nice quality hat! Check out their site, they have many different options including visors! The hats retail for $25.

"Disclaimer: I received a Garmin Forerunner 935 as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

With so many types of fitness trackers available, it’s hard to choose what might be right for you. Previously, I was using a Fitbit Surge. It's on the higher end of fitbits, It did all the basics. Steps, distance, pace, etc. Then there are watches that are geared to help take your training to the next level. The Garmin Forerunner 935 certainly fits into that category! It is billed as a “Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Watch with Wrist-based Heart Rate”

The Garmin Forerunner 935 has a pretty extensive list of features, too many to go into detail here. There are 14 physiological conditions it analyzes and 6 running dynamics data points. However, I have picked a few features to discuss that I personally had experience with during the testing period.

Huge library of watch facesI picked a simple clean look initially, and then realized I could change it as often as I wanted to, based on mood, location, etc. So I started browsing through the library and couldn’t get over the options. I scrolled through more than 35 pages of choices, all free. I chose the one below, which changes colors based on your calorie burn. Crazy, right? You can also upload your own image. You just need to use the Garmin Connect IQ store.

Note: The more extensive your watch face is, the more drain in can cause on your battery life. I found that I could go 7-10 days on a battery charge.

Conditions RatingWithin the first 10 minutes of your workout (usually around .6 miles for me), I get a notification that shows my performance rating. It can be anywhere from -20 to +20. According to Garmin, “this metric analyzes pace, heart rate and heart rate variability. The resulting number is a real-time assessment of the deviation from your baseline VO2 max, with each point on the scale representing about 1% of your VO2 max. The higher the number, the higher you can expect to perform.”

I personally have seen anywhere from -1 to a +9, and I can honestly say that I haven’t “felt” any different on either run. But clearly, my watch might be more in tune with my performance capabilities than I am.

WidgetsThe watch comes with a variety of customizable widgets – from notifications to weather to steps. Basically it is letting you decide what do you want to see on a daily basis that you can scroll through quickly. I customized a few things like steps goals, etc. I also added a “countdown clock” counting down to a huge milestone event coming up.This watch has the option of sending you notifications for practically every app on your phone! Seriously, as soon as I set up this phone and activated it (which was a breeze), I was inundated with notifications from Instagram, facebook, etc. and text messages. Luckily you can easily turn those off.

weather widget

Countdown clock widget

The feedback is pretty cool. It will celebrate every victory with you – fastest 5k, 10k, longest distance, etc.

Again, I know that there are a million more things I could talk about for the Garmin Forerunner 935. For the average athlete, it has far more data capabilities than you could ever need. However, if you are someone who really likes constant feedback and indicators that could help you improve your training, this is a great watch for you. It is the perfect watch for triathletes, too – since it is waterproof and can toggle in between sports with the touch of a button.

I'm not quite sure what data to believe. According to V02 max, I'm in excellent condition, but the watch tells me every day that my training status is "Unproductive". Not sure what I have to do to boost that number. Requires more research...

The price tag is steep at $499. But again, if you are a data geek who will actually use the data to improve performance, then this is the one for you.

"Disclaimer: I received a complimentary race entry for the Hot Chocolate 15k as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

We are about a week out from Hot Chocolate Scottsdale and I wanted to share a few tips regarding packet pickup and race day to make things smooth.

Packet pickup is held both Friday AND Saturday. I recommend going on Friday if you can – we were in and out in less than 15 minutes last year. Tip: Take advantage of free hot chocolate samples and individual chocolates!

Race morning will be crowded! Go EARLY if you can. We arrived at least an hour before start time, which sounds crazy – but we sat in our warm car with coffee and didn’t have to stress about lines or parking. It’s also always chilly on race morning. Dress accordingly. You may be tempted to run in your new Hot Chocolate sweatshirt, but especially if you are running the 15k, it’s always best to stick with something tried and true so you don’t get chafing.

When you finish, be patient – although it may not take too long to get through the lines to get your chocolate bowl, finding a place to sit and find your friends can be a bit of a challenge. Try to establish a meeting point ahead of time if possible. There are plenty of photo props to take photos in front of, so be sure to take selfies and have fun!

If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? It is on pace to sell out! Use BRHCSCOTTS17 for a free Hot Chocolate cap.

"Disclaimer: I received a complimentary race entry for the Hot Chocolate 15k as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I’m coming back for another round of chocolate! This will be my 5th hot chocolate race. I ran Hot Chocolate 15k here in Scottsdale the first year they offered it, back in 2012, and just the 5k last year, due to injury. I have also ran the 15k in Las Vegas for the last two years.

Since I missed the 15k here last year after recovering from surgery, I am rearing to go and have a good 15k race experience here this year.

Hot chocolate has both incredible swag AND delicious hot chocolate and chocolate fondue with dippers. It is enough motivation to get you across the finish line!

It’s always a chilly morning on race day, so the thought of hot chocolate is a great incentive! The location for the Hot Chocolate race is Salt River Fields, where the Arizona Diamondbacks call home for spring training. In my next post, I’ll share some tips for packet pickup and race day to make things smooth.

If you haven’t signed up yet, what are you waiting for? Use BRHCSCOTTS17 for a free Hot Chocolate cap.

"Disclaimer: I received an Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

Traveling is in my blood. I grew up taking lots of trips with my parents and went on to work for a major airline for over 10 years. I can’t sit still, I just wanna go on adventures!!!! Can you say racecations? I run a ton of Ragnar races all over the country now, and when I do a Ragnar, I don’t use a suitcase – I use a duffel bag because of it’s easy access and ability to smush into spaces in the van since it’s not rigid.

Enter the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel! When the shipment came, I was like how is it fitting in this tiny box?? This is how it arrives – it folds down into itself into this tiny space saving cube!

The one annoying part of the duffel bag that I had been using for my Ragnars is that it can be difficult to carry. There is no shoulder strap, just the two handles. Not fun when you’re travelling through an airport with it. The feature on this Eagle Creek beauty that I was excited about the most is that there are BACKPACK straps on it! Doesn’t get much easier than that! Super sporty.

The tiny cube unfolded into this giant 60 L bag:

Here's what this amazing bag can do:

ULTRA-LIGHT (weighs only 1 lb 12 oz!!)

Water-repellent coated fabric

Reinforcement on all high stress points

Multiple ways to carry it - by its removable backpack straps, padded top haul handles, or side grab handle

U-shaped lid for easy access to main compartment

Big easy-access zippered end pockets

Six heavy-duty lash points for attaching this bag to a roof rack

#10 lockable zippers with storm flap shield zipper from rain

Bottom is foam padded to help protect contents against impact

Capacity: 3665 cu in | 60 L

Dimensions: 26.5 x 10.25 x 13.5 in | 67 x 26 x 34 cm

I was immediately inspired to take a road trip! First up was a 4 day trip to Savannah, GA for Rock n Roll Savannah half marathon. I had plenty of extra room in my bag on the way there. I used a set of packing cubes in the main compartment and then just had toiletries and charger cords in the end compartments.

It traveled really well through the airport and on connecting flights. With the handles on each end, it made it easy to grab out of the overhead bin with one hand. I took a smaller commuter type plane ride from Savannah to Charlotte, and it even made the cut! I was able to stuff it overhead and not have to gate check. Score!

This bag really, really makes me want to go camping. Alas, I didn’t have anyone to go camping with during this campaign, so I had to settle for a nature hike instead.

How good does this bag look in rugged nature settings?

Two things I was not able to test. One was the water proof factor. It hasn’t rained here in the Arizona desert in over 2 months! The second was being able to tie it to the roof of your car. I don’t have a roof rack unfortunately. However, I am over the moon with this bag and can’t wait to take it on my next Ragnar race!!

This bag comes in 5 color combos and retails for $99. There are also smaller versions available. Eagle Creek makes a wide variety of travel bags, backpacks, luggage and accessories. You might want to add one to your holiday wish list!

"Disclaimer: I received samples of Health Warrior Chia Bars as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I have always been a snacker. Especially in the afternoon, I’m always scrounging around for something to snack on. I’ve seen friends post pictures of their Health Warrior snacks and have been curious.

Health Warrior is known for superfood bars – either chia, protein or pumpkin seed. I received 2 boxes of chia bars to try. 1 box of Apple cinnamon, and 1 box of dark chocolate. I immediately assumed that the chocolate flavor would be my favorite, as I am typically drawn to that – over fruity flavors. The bars are not very big, but they are a mighty nutritional powerhouse. Each chia bar is on average 100 calories, has 3 g protein, low sugar, and over 1000 mg of omega 3!! We all know that omega 3 is good for managing cholesterol, fueling your brain, and a strong antioxidant for your body.

Fun fact: chia bars are higher in omega 3 than salmon!To my delight, my 11 year old son immediately grabbed an apple cinnamon bar and proclaimed them to be delicious. I think he ate 6 of them in the first 2 days before I had to hide the box so that I could try them myself!

Benefits of chia seeds:

Ok time to take the taste test. I tried the chocolate first, because I assumed I would love it. Unfortunately, I found the chocolate flavor to be offputting. Fortunately, my son likes it. It does have many ingredients I like – cashew butter, chocolate chips, cocoa liquor, rolled oats, almonds and more.

Next I tried the apple cinnamon. Success! This was a little sweet but I liked it. Still had cashew butter, almonds, oats, but also dried apples and cinnamon. It was very dense and moist. Like I said previously, these are small but mighty. One down side is that I did end up with chia seeds in my teeth afterwards. They are “white” chia seeds, but still…

There are other ways to enjoy your health warrior bar. I topped a bowl of plain greek yogurt with a chopped up bar and it was a really nice touch.

Both varieties meet the following criteria:

Soy free

Dairy free

Gluten free

Vegan

There are currently 9 flavors of chia bars available. You can buy a box of just one flavor, or there are several variety packs to choose from. The ones I would still like to try are Banana Nut, Chocolate peanut butter, and vanilla almond. I’m also intrigued by their protein bar collection and pumpkin seed bars. Each variety is chock full of superfoods, seriously! Right now you can make your own sample pack of 3 flavors for $4.99, including shipping! I’m going to try to get my hands on some of these other flavors to try.

And lastly, Health Warrior is offering a FREE coloring book, specifically for runners. They are funny scenes that distance runners would appreciate. Get yours free with your Health Warrior order at healthwarrior.link/colorbookbr

"Disclaimer: I received a set of ThermoNet™ Multifunction Headwear and hat from BUFF USA to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I have been a fan of BUFF USA for years. You know, the company that makes the original buffs for Survivor? I’ve tried out many types of their buffs as well as the UV arm sleeves and have always been impressed with their quality and functionality. I don’t own much in the way of cold weather active headwear, since I live in Arizona. However, I travel a lot – especially for races – so I decided I should give these items a try.

The ThermoNet™ items arrived as a set – a beanie and a BUFF. They definitely had a different feel than the other buffs I own. It is a woven, stretchy fabric that helps trap heat in. Designed to keep you warm without feeling bulky.

I brought these 2 items with me to Ragnar Michigan. I’m a total cold weather wuss, which is why I moved from Michigan to Arizona in the first place! I thought there was a good chance I would want this for my night run, at the very least.

As the sun was setting, we were at Pentwater Beach on Michigan’s west coast. The wind was whipping and it was probably around 40-45 degrees. I started out with just the BUFF to protect my neck and keep it warm. It has a loose fit, but it helped a lot. We slept in our vans that night, and I slept in my BUFF! We woke up to 36 degrees. Oh my Lord. I threw on the beanie too and bravely stepped out into the cold. Boy, did it look cute!

I tend to have trouble keeping hats or headbands on my thin, fine hair, they sometimes slide right off – sometimes without me even realizing it. But the beanie is very fitted, it fit like a glove. Even at the lakeshore, where the windchill was in full force and it was even colder, these items kept me warm. A few hours later, when it was my turn to run, I decided to still wear the BUFF around my neck when I ran a 6.6 mile leg. The nice part – even after all that running it was not soaked and uncomfortable. Maybe just slightly damp. I threw it in the wash when I got back home, and it came out beautifully. One note: If I am going to wear it around my neck (and not a headwrap), I do like it to be tighter. The fit is really loose when wearing it like a scarf. When it gets colder in Arizona in the coming months, I can see wearing this as a headwrap over my ears possibly

Here are the product features:

The Primaloft ™ fabric they use helps keep in the heat and is “4x warmer” than other fabrics

Lightweight

Fast-drying and moisture wicking

Material won’t freeze in extreme temperatures

Completely seamless for maximum comfort

The hat comes in 3 colors and the ThermoNet™ BUFF comes in 9. They retail for $27 each.

But, wait, there’s more! For a special limited-time offer, BUFF USA is giving you 20% off your entire order at www.buffusa.com when you purchase at least one product from the ThermoNet™ collection. Includes ThermoNet™ Multifunctional Headwear, Hats or Balaclavas. Enter code: *BIBRAVETHERMONET20* at checkout. Expires: 11/17/2017. Get one for yourself or as a holiday gift for a running buddy!

"Disclaimer: I received 2 sets of Travelwise Packing Cubes to review as part of being a Fitfluential Ambassador. Opinions are my own”

This was my first time using packing cubes of any kind. I’m typically a folder, not roller – but I will admit there’s never been any real organization to it. And there’s nothing worse than opening your suitcase up to see that everything has shifted and now you have a huge mess on your hands.

I recently gave these a try on my trip to Savannah, GA. It was a 4 day trip, just using a carry on bag. I used the smallest cube for socks and underwear. There was still plenty of room, even with 4 days worth. I used the medium size for sport bras, shorts and tops. Lastly, I used the largest cube for jeans and leggings, even a pair of flip flops. I only used the 1 set of these for this trip, but I think I could have used both sets. I totally could have put things like the curling iron and charger cords in one so they weren’t flopping around.

I enjoyed knowing right where things were because they never moved! Plus being able to see through into the cube made things easy to identify. The cubes are extremely lightweight and flexible – I almost wish that was just a little more structure to it so that nothing would get crushed. The side handles were very "handy" too, made it easy to grab and carry.

"Disclaimer: I received a complimentary race entry for the Rock n Roll Savannah Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

I chose the Rock n Roll Savannah half marathon for a special purpose – 1) to visit my friend who lives nearby and 2) to have somewhere different to celebrate a big milestone – my 50th half marathon! I have ran several rock n roll races before and know that they don’t disappoint.

Over the months of planning for this, another mutual friend decided to join in on the fun and make a girls weekend in Savannah. I’ve been struggling with my running for the last 6 months or so, but was looking forward to this race.

We flew in on Thursday and stayed at my friend’s house about 30 minutes away in South Carolina. Friday we drove over to Savannah and checked in at the Marriott Riverfront. What a nice hotel, just about a half mile from the start/finish and right on the river. We took the ferry over to the expo (um, how cool is that??) . It’s a short, free ride on the Savannah Belle.

The expo was busy, but not too overcrowded. We were desperately hungry and in search of snacks and samples – it was so strange, but we did not see one energy bar company there at all. Zero. Other than gummies and sport beans, there was nothing. The expo overall seemed smaller and was a bit disappointing.

We had received a message that they were moving the start time up 10 minutes due to heat concerns. Not sure how 10 minutes makes a difference, but it was well communicated by race management. Temps were expected to be the 60s/low 70s and humid. After the expo we went to the City Market – a collection of restaurants and shops over a few blocks – it was very quaint. We sipped on a little Georgia peach sangria in a to-go cup. Did I mention that I love the open container law here in Savannah? Three cheers for that! We decided to go to the prohibition museum across the street for something different. That was really cool. Learned a lot about what it was like back then, and how people got around the law. It ended in a fun speakeasy.

We meandered back to the hotel to put our feet up. It was SO much walking. We went out for dinner and boy did that go wrong. The city was slammed with runners and the restaurant we had a reservation at and had to walk nearly 2 miles to couldn’t handle the crowds. They were nearly and hour behind schedule We had to to uber to another place and wait 20 minutes for pizza. Oh well…at least we had some nice views along the way!

Our alarm went off at 6:15 for a 7:20 start. The walk to the start seemed really short. I was meeting up with 2 of my fellow BibRave Pros, Samantha and Jessica. Managed to find them for a quick pic and then got into my corral. We started on time, just as daylight was starting to break. My friends switched to the relay, so we were also able to take a quick start pic together before going our separate ways.

The first 3-4 miles of the course took us through an industrial section of town and over an overpass. Final we turned into a residential area, and there were many residents out in their driveways, cheering us on and providing high fives. Around mile 6 they were handing out mimosas…or so I thought. I had already started taking short walking breaks, so I thought what the heck, and I grabbed one. I swear it was all orange juice. We were finally in the heart of the historic district, which we basically stayed in for the duration of the race. I caught the sun coming up, and what was a typical scene of running under the hanging Spanish moss.

Around mile 7 I was taking a gel and my hands were so sweaty I couldn’t get it open. There were tons of people lining the streets, and I stopped and asked a nice gentleman if he would open it for me. He was so nice. I took intermittent walking breaks roughly every mile or so. I wasn’t that tired, but I was being a little lazy.

At mile 11 they were handing out iced sponges. Glorious. I took a second one they just felt so darn good. At mile 12.5 there was an opportunity for beer, but I was just too close to the finish to give in. I finally had that finish line within my sight.

The last .25 mile was magical, like rainbows and unicorns. I was feeling emotional, euphoric, happy. I was finishing my 50th half marathon feeling fantastic. No pain, not dying from pushing myself hard, but smiling like I had just won the lottery. That feeling continued past the finish line, while I took pics, got my free beer, and waited for my friends to finish the relay. My time was not a great one for me – I finished in 2:22( only 4 minutes faster than my last one, but 32 minutes past my PR). But I took time to really enjoy my surroundings – took pics – high fives – mimosas – and let the thrill of finishing give me satisfaction, instead of stellar finish time.

At the finish, the lines for beer were LONG. Like crazy long. There were plenty of salty snacks, water, chocolate milk and bananas.

Overall, I could not have enjoyed myself any more. I loved the course, the humidity didn’t bother me that much – and even though my time sucked I had a blast seeing the sights. I would enjoy doing this race again!